THE SECOND Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) chairpersons and commissioners expressed their elation over the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 12028, known as the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Law, which aims to address learning loss among basic education learners.

The ARAL Program Law, co-authored by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and Representative Roman Romulo, establishes a comprehensive national academic support system. It focuses on providing both face-to-face and online, or blended learning tutorial sessions for struggling learners. Additionally, it ensures adequate compensation for tutors, emphasizing the government’s commitment to educational recovery and quality teaching.

The law aims to address the country’s learning gap. Previous reports by the World Bank show that 9 out of 10 Filipino children aged 10 are unable to read and understand a simple text appropriate for their age, further estimating a learning gap of 5.5 years. Similar findings were seen in the PISA 2022 results, with over 75% of Filipino students being low performers in mathematics, science, reading, and creative thinking.

“Today marks a transformative milestone for our education sector. We are paving the way to fulfill the promise we made to every Filipino learner, especially those who are struggling. I’d like to thank Secretary Sonny Angara. In 34 days from the effectivity of this Act, we now have the IRR. This is to make sure that no student is left behind,” Gatchalian said.

“Today we are signing another landmark piece of legislation. Before, only a few students had access to tutoring. Now, under the Free National Learning Intervention Program of the ARAL program, it is possible for all students in need of support, especially in reading, math, and science. This law is a concrete response to improve our PISA rankings and confront learning loss,” said Senator Joel Villanueva, also an EDCOM 2 Commissioner.

“This law is integral to our shared goal – quality education. Its implementation must be properly managed. Through this law, no student should be left behind, especially those who need the most attention. This law focuses on rebuilding foundational skills in reading, mathematics, and science,” Romulo added.